Mission Impossible Series: Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt with ‘Rogue Nation’

Action lover or not, if you were around in the 90s, you’re bound to be a 'Mission: Impossible' fan if not an admirer of the almost perfect Tom Cruise. The spy action films are based on a television series of the same name and are produced by Cruise who stars as the IMF agent Ethan hunt. The ‘Mission: Impossible’ series is the 21st highest grossing film series of all time with over $2 billion worth of worldwide gross. As we gear up to watch the Fifth installment, 'Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation', here's a look at how much each film in the series has earned.

Mission: Impossible: The first of the series released in 1996 with Ethan Hunt being framed for the murder of his fellow agent and accused to selling government secrets to an international criminal called ‘Max. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film starred Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Henry Czerny, Jean Reno, and Ving Rhames among others.

Mission: Impossible: The film was a huge commercial success as well as with the critics. It became the third highest-grossing film of the year. ‘Mission: Impossible’ broke the record for a film opening on a Wednesday with US$11.8 million beating the $11.7 million ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ made in 1991. The film went on to make $180.9 million in North America and $276.7 million in the rest of the world for a worldwide total of $457.6 million.

Mission: Impossible II (2000) : Tom Cruise reprised his role as agent Ethan Hunt, sending Nyah Norddoff-Hall undercover to stop an ex agent's deadly scheme. Directed by John Woo, the film was said to be similar to Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Notorious’ in terms of the theme.

Mission: Impossible II: The second installment was a financial success despite opening to mixed reviews with regards to the plot and dialogue. After an opening weekend of $57,845,297, the film grossed at $546,388,105 worldwide.

Mission: Impossible III (2006): In this film, Ethan Hunt has retired as IMF team leader and is engaged to be married. He puts together a team to tackle the dangerous problem of ‘The Rabbit’s Foot’.

Mission: Impossible III: The film was a box office success, receiving mostly positive reviews. It opened in over 4000 theatres across US and topped the box office in its opening weekend. It collected $397.9 worldwide.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011): In the fourth installment, Ethan Hunt and the team try to stop a man who is starting a nuclear war. The film also had Indian actor Anil Kapoor.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol: This film was touted as the best from the series and became the highest-grossing ‘Mission: Impossible’ film and the highest-grossing film starring Tom Cruise.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation: In this film, Ethan Hunt is faced with a tough mission of proving the existence of the Syndicate – a near-mythical organization of assassins and hit men.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation: The film, which is releasing today (August 7) in India, was a critical and commercial success, making $55.5 million at the US box office during the opening weekend and $139 million worldwide.

Mission: Impossible 6: Tom Cruise has confirmed that the sixth installment is being developed and will begin production in 2016.